365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #317

Trouble in a Pinstripe Suit - Kelly Hunter
Harlequin Presents Extra
Harlequin, 2012
ISBN: 9780373528582

N.B. This is a North American release - UK and Aus/NZ title is 'Sleeping Partner'.








My rating

From the back cover:

"Restoring a dilapidated hotel doesn't come cheap, but Mia Fletcher doesn't want to accept financial help from Ethan Hamilton. This dangerously sexy businessman isn't someone who takes no for an answer, however, and soon their flirting turns into something more.… 
Mia knows Ethan isn't a forever kind of guy, but she cannot resist taking what he has to offer by getting him out of his immaculate suit and into bed! Surely their explosive affair will burn itself out—unless Mia can tame his untouchable heart.… "

I bought this book recently with a bunch of other Harlequin Presents. I love this title!

The heroine Mia arrives on the island of Penang after learning that she has inherited a hotel from the mother she thought had died many years before. When she finds the rather dilapidated hotel, she is met by the hero Ethan, whom she discovers is the son of the man her mother had left her father, and her, for. Ethan knows that it is hard for Mia to find out the truth about her mother, and he wants to help her through it, but Mia refuses. Mia decides to try and renovate the hotel, and during the process learns a lot about the mother she never got the chance to know. And as much as she tries to ignore him, Mia can't deny the affect that Ethan has on her. She wants to hate him but the more time they spend together the more she falls for him. Ethan also realises that his feelings for Mia run deeper, especially seeing her strength as she comes to terms with everything, but he doesn't know if he can ever give her more.

This is a really fascinating book, and I enjoyed it. It has a nice blend of emotion and charm, and the writing is full of passion. The exotic setting is vividly portrayed and very evocative, but I got a little bored with all the myths and ghost stories after a while. The relationship between the hero and heroine felt very natural and full of spark, but I didn't quite understand the fact that the hero was the one who did most of the chasing, then changed his mind about what he wanted from the heroine - it came off as a little shallow.
The plot around the heroine's mother choosing a different life was emotional, and handled well by the author - it was written with a refreshing honesty that I really responded to.

Overall, an enjoyable book.

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